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J. HUBER.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE MINE FIRING GEARSQ APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1911.

1,314,653. Patented Sept. 2,1919.

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I m 1 Z UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

.IAMEs HUBER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoE To VICKERS LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE-MINE FIRING-GEARS.

Application filed March 20, 1917.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JAMES HUBER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Submarine-Mine Fir ing-Gearsand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a releasable locking device for submarine mine-firing ears which is particularly applicable to ring gears on that class of mines in which either the mines themselves, or firing levers thereon, or both, rotate when in contact with the side of a ship.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a locking device" which will prevent the operation of the firing gear, except when released by the engagement of the mine or the firing lever with the side of a ship.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device which may be incorporated in a type of firing gear which is at the present time in general use, with only slight modification of the gear.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an exceedingly simple device which, because of its simplicity, will be particularly efi'ective.

In the drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, but this embodiment is merely chosen for convenience of illustration, and it is to be understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the particular embodiment disclosed, as many modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of my device showing the same applied to a mine-firing gear and showing the parts in the positions they will occupy immediately after the mine is planted;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view showing the first step in the assembly of the parts of the gear lock;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the final step in the assembly of the gear lock; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the members of the gear lock illustrating the form Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Serial No. 156,096.

tion and the relative positions of the notches for receiving the locking elements.

The gear lock which is illustrated in the drawings and is of the same general type as that illustrated in my co-pending applicatlon, Serial No. 149,035, filed February 16, 1917, comprises an anchor section 1 and a mIne section 2, the former of which is secured to the anchor by a suitable clevis 3 to which the anchor chain is attached, the clevis itself being attached to the anchor section 1 by a bolt 4. The mine section 2 is suitably attached to the mine in the usual manner and is provided with a reduced cylindrical portion 5, which is adapted to extend into a similarly shaped, but relatively longer recess 6 in the anchor section 1. The sections 1 and 2 are adapted to have relative longitudinal movement, the section 1 moving downwardly on the section 2, and when such movement occurs, the firing of the mine will result.

In order that the movement of the section 1 on the section 2, which will result in the disengagement of the sections, may be prevented, except at the proper time and under the proper conditions, that is to say, when the firing lever 7 on the mine section is engaged by the side of a ship, I have provided the mine section 2 with a socket. This socket is located axially of the section 2 and is provided with a relatively constricted passage-way 8 and an enlarged chamber 9, there being, however, on opposite sides of the constricted passage-way 8, channels 10 which extend from the chamber 9 through the bottom of the portion 5 of the mine section 2. A locking element, which forms in conjunction with the socket in the minefiring section 2, 2 bayonet connection, is located within the recess in the anchor section 1. This locking element includes a base 11, from which extends upwardly, a shank 12, and on the upper end of the shank of which a head 13 is formed. This head is of a diameter slightly less than that of the passage-way 8, but is provided with wings 14 which are adapted to rest upon the shoulders 15 formed in the recess 9 and normally prevent the disengaging longitudinal movement of the section 1 on the section 2. These wings are, however, adapted to pass through the channels 10, when relative rotative movement occurs between the sections 1 and 2, to bring the wings into registrati n with the channels. The locking element above referred to is attached to the section 1, so that it will rotate with the same, but so that the section may have slight longitudinal movement with relation thereto by bolts 16 which extend into and are attached to the base 11. These bolts pass through the lower end of the section 1 and the heads thereof are located within the recesses in the lower ends. Disposed between the heads 17 of the bolts and the lower end of the sectlon 1 are soluble elements 18 which, during the planting of the mine, prevent the slight longitudinal movement of the section 1 on the section 2 and with relation to the looking element, but which, when they pass into solution, permit such slight longitudlnal movement.

It will be perfectly obvious from the foregoing description that when the elements of the bayonet connection are interengaged, the disengagement of the sections 1 and will be prevented, but that when one section 1s turned with relation to the other, the wings 14 will be brought into alinement with the channels 10 and that the section 1 will move from the section 2 and the mine will be fired. Of course, if no means were provided to prevent the relative rotative movement of the sections 1 and 2, the tidal or other currents acting on the firing lever 7 would cause the premature separation of the sections, and the consequent useless explosion of the mine. I have, therefore, provided means for preventing the relative rotation of the sections 1 and 2, except upon the application of a predetermined force to one or the other, and have so constructed the means that the necessary force may be varied within wide limits. This means includes one or more locking dogs 20 which are slidably mounted in bores 21 in the base 11 of the element of the bayonet connection and are adapted to recede into said bores. They are, however, normally urged so that they project from the bores by suitable means, such as springs 22. The upper end of each of the dogs 20 is provided with converging faces which form, in effect, cam surfaces 23. These dogs are arranged to extend into notches 24 in the lower end of the mine section 2 when the sections 1 and 2 are assembled, but before the bayonet connection between the same is effective to prevent their relative longitudinal movement, that is to say, before the wings 14 move completely out of alinement with the channels 10. These notches 24 are arranged in alinement with the channels 10, and while they are provided with cam surfaces 25, the notches are somewhat elongated, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These dogs 20 are, after the sections 1 and 2 have been rotated to bring the wings 14 into registration with the shoulders 15,

I nels 10.

adapted to seat in notches 26, which are pro vided with cam surfaces 27. These cam surfaces are so arranged that they intersect and the notches are of substantially the same size and form as the upper ends of the dogs, that is to say, they are not elongated to any extent. It is to be here noted that when the dogs are located either in the notches 24 or in the notches 26, the springs 22 are not under compression and also that the lower ends of the bores 21 are provided with outlet ports 28, so that the downward movement of the dogs 20 will not be-prevented by the accumulation of water in the bores.

In assembling the locking device, when the portion 5 of the section 2 is located in the recess in the section 1, the dogs 20 will be located in the notches 24 and the springs will not be under compression. Also the wings 14 will be in alinement with the chan- Upon a slight relative rotative movement of the sections 1 and 2, the wings 14 will be engaged with the shoulders 15,

and the upper ends of the dogs 20 will move into engagement with certain of the cam faces 25 of the notches 24. It is to be here noted that if the notches 24 were not elongated, the springs 22 would be compressed immediately upon any rotative movement and before the wings 14 engaged the shoulders 15. The result would be that-section 1 would be moved away from the section 2 and the bayonet connection would be ineffective to hold the sections together. The provision of the elongated notches, however, permits the wings 14 to engage the shoulders 15 before the springs 22 are put under compression. After the wings 14 engage the shoulders 15, the further relative rotative movement of the sections 1 and 2 will cause the dogs 20 to move downwardly against the action of the springs 22, placing the latter under compression with the caln surfaces 23 of the dogs riding on the cam surfaces 25 of the notches 24. The continued relative rotative movement of the sections 1 and 2 finds the dogs 20 riding on the lower edge 29 of thesection 2 and the springs 22 under compresslon. Immediately upon the bringmg of the notches 26 into alinement with the dogs 20, the latter are projected up wardly by the springs 22 to engage the notches, and the sections 1 and 2 are thereafter prevented from having relative rota tlve movement, except when the mine is engaged by a ship, at which time the reverse action to that which has been here described takes place, and the movement of the section 1 on the section 2 is permitted.

Of course, it will be obvious that the force requlred to cause the relative rotative move ment of the sections 1 and 2, when the dogs 20 are engaged with the notches 26, may be accurately determined in view of the fact that it depends upon the relation of the.

angles of inclination of the cam surfaces 23 on the dogs and the cam surfaces 27 in the notches 26,-and also on the force required to compress the springs 22. The variation of one or all of these elements will, of course, vary the necessary force.

It will further be understood that the separation of the sections 1 and 2 to permit the firing of the mine will be somewhat delayed after the disengagement of the dog or dogs 20 from the notches 26. This is because of the fact that the dogs will ride upon the lower edge of the portion 5 of the section 2 and will press against such lower edge so that the relative rotation will be caused by the passage of the ship. This will insure the firing of the mine after it has arrived at a position considerably to the rear of the bow, and this is particularly advantageous where the ship is of considerable size and of relatively low speed as the most effective point for the explosion to occur is midway between the bow and stern.

From the foregoing description, it will be perfectly clear that I have provided a very simpledevice which will prevent the accidental separation of the sections 1 and 2 and the consequent premature firing of the mine, but which will permit the disengagement when a predetermined force is applied.

What I claim is 1. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a mine section and an anchor section separable upon sequential relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of resilient means for resisting the rotative movement with a predetermined force, said force being developed upon the relative rotation of the sections.

2. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a mine section and an anchor section separable upon sequential relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of resilient means for resisting the rotative movement with a predetermined force, said resilient means being under compression only during the relative rotative movement of the sections.

3. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a plurality of sections having relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of a bayonet connection between said sections, resilient means for resisting the rotative movement with a predetermined force.

4. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a plurality of sections having relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of a bayonet connection between said sections, resilient means for resisting the rotative movement with a predetermined force, said resilient means being under compression only during the movement of the bayonet connection from its operative to its inoperative position.

6. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a pair of sections separable upon relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of spring-pressed dogs carried by one of said sections and engaging notches in the other of the sections for resisting the rotative movement.

7. In a releasable lock for submarine mine firing gear, the combination with a pair of sections separable upon relative rotative and longitudinal movements and having a bayonet connection therebetween, of springpressed dogs carried by one of the sections, the other of said sections having notches therein in which said dogs are adapted to seat, the notches being arranged in such manner that the dogs will be seated therein when the bayonet connection is both operative and inoperative to prevent the separation of the sections.

8. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, thev combination with a pair of sections, one of which is provided with a wing-carrying element and the other of which is provided with shoulders with which the wings are adapted to engage and with channels through which the wings are adapted to pass, and spring-actuated dogs on the wing-carrying section, the shouldercarrying section having notches therein in alinement with the shoulders and adapted to receive said dogs and having additional notches therein in alinement with the channels, the last-mentioned notches being elongated to permit the engagement of the wings and shoulders upon the relative rotation of the sections before the dogs pass from the notches.

9. In a releasable lock for submarine minefiring gear, the combination with a mine section having a recess therein provided with shoulders and channels leading from the same, of an anchor section having a locking element carrying wings arranged to pass through said channels and engage said shoulders, the mine section having notches therein provided with cam faces and in alinement with said shoulders and having additional elongated notches provided with cam surfaces and in alinement with said channels, spring-pressed dogs arranged to seat in all of said notches and to resist the relative rotative movement of the sections, the spring actuating means for the dogs being under compression only when the dogs are passing from one set of notches to the other.

10. In a releasable lock for submarine mine-firing gear, the combination With a mine section and an anchor section separable upon sequential relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of yieldable means carried by one section and engageable with the other for resisting the rotative movement with a predetermined force, said means being operable to permit the relative rotative movement of the sections upon the continued application of force to one of the sections.

11. In a releasable lock for submarine mine-firing gear, the combination with a pair of sections separable upon relative rotative and longitudinal movements, of means for resisting the relative rotative movement, said means depending upon said relative rotative movement for its maximum effectiveness.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

JAMES HUBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

